Car truck



y 1927- B. w. KADEL E AL CAR TRUCK Filed June 9 1926 4 Sheets-Sheet l ASL/4 e lvwan-foz y 31, 1927- a. w. KADEL ET AL CAR TRUCK Filed June 9 1926 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 mna mmxmmun-mxmm May 31, 1927. 1,630,573

B. W. KADEL ET AL CAR TRUCK Filed June 9 1926 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 E" Q i [/9 63057 May 1927' B. w. KADEL ET AL 3 CAR TRUCK Filed June 1926 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 iHl Patented May 31, 1927.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

BYERS W. KADEL, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND, AND DONALD S. BARROWS, OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK.

can TRUCK.

Application filed June 9, 1926.

This invention relates to trucks and, more particularly, to rallway ear trucks in which the capacity of the bolster springs is reinforced by additional spring units of shorter free height than the original spring units.

The principal object of our invention, generally considered, is the provision of additional springs for augmenting the capacity of the nest of springs supporting the truck bolster, said additional springs, however, being shorter and preferably stiffer than the original spring units whereby they are not brought into play until after a predetermined compression of said original spring units.

An object of our invention is the provision of a seven unit nest of springs for supporting each end of the truck bolster, said nest of springs comprising five spring units normally positioned with respect to one another and two additional springs positioned on opposite sides of the center spring unit of the five unit nest of springs and located substantially on the transverse or short cen- V ter line of said five unit nest of springs, said additional springs being shorter than the units of the five unit nest of springs and adapted to come into play only aftera predetermined compression of the five unit nest of springs, said additional springs, however, being preferably stiffer than the other springs and of approximately the same solid height.

A further object of our invention is the reinforcement of the nests of springs supporting the truck bolsters of railway car trucks, said reinforcement comprising additional spring units associated with the original units of the nest of springs and preferably of such a height that they just come into play when the original springs are normally loaded.

A still further object of our invention is the supporting of the bolster in a railway car truck by means of nests of springs each consisting of seven spring units hexagonally arranged with the seventh unit centrally positioned with respect to the other six units, two of said spring units disposed on oppositesides of the center spring unit being formed of thicker material than the remaining spring units of each nest of springs and of a shorter free height than said spring units whereby the capacity thereof is reserved until after a predetermined compression of said Serial No. 114,739.

other spring units, the tension member of the side frame underlying said nest of springs being substantially box shape in cross section and appropriately modified for efficiently supporting said nest of springs by causing the side webs thereof to diverge outwardly until the upper ends thereof lie directly beneath the inner and outer spring units, respectively, of said nest of springs, that portion of the tension member of the side frame, directly beneath the center spring unit, being reinforced by transverse webs extending inwardly from the side webs between the upper and lower webs of the side frame tension member.

Other objects and advantages of the invention relating to the particular arrange ment and combination of the various parts will become apparent as the description proceeds.

Referring to the drawings illustrating our invention, the scope whereof is defined by the appended claims:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary side elevation, partly in section, of a railway car truck particularly showing the bolster springs and the adjacent portions of the side frame, bolster and spring plank.

Figure 2 is a. horizontal sectional view on the line 2-2 of Figure 1 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view on the line 3--3 of Figure 1 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 4 is a diagrammatic plan view particularly illustrating the construction of the tension member of the side frame underlying the bolster springs which are indicated diagrammatically by dot and dash lines.

Figure 5 is a detailed top plan view of the lower spring plate and is also a bottom plan view of the upper spring plate.

Figures 6, 7, 8 and 9 are views corresponding to Figures 1. 2, 3, and 4, respectively, but showing another embodiment" of our invention.

Referring to the drawings in detail, like parts being designated by like reference characters and first, considering the embodiment or modification illustrated in Figures 1 to 5, inclusive, a side frame 1 is formed with a compression member 2, a tension member '3 and bolster guide columns or strut portions 4 spacing intermediate portions of said compression and tension membars and leaving a window or bolster opening 5 therebetween. The compression memher 2 may be generally U shape in cross section and the strut portions 4:, particularly at the bolster guiding portions thereof, may be of similar construction. The tension member 3, particularly between the strut portions 4 beneath the window opening 5, is formed generally box shape in cross section and provided with an upper web 6, a lower web 7, a front or outer web 8 and a rear or inner web 9. The lower web 7 is preferably substantially uniform in width while the upper web 6 is preferably increased in width beneath the window opening to form a spring supporting or spring plank seat portion of the side frame 1. The outer and inner webs 8 and 9, respectively, preferably extend from the side edges of the lower web 7 directly upward to intermediate portions of the upper web 6 except directly beneath the bolster opening 5 where they are preferably sloped outwardly and upwardly so as to meet the upper web 6 substantially directly beneath certain springs of the supported nest of springs, as will more clearly appear hereinafter.

Preferably supported directly on the spring plank seat portion of the upper web 6 of the tension member 3 is a spring plank 10 which is preferably formed with openings 11 therethrough for cooperative engagement withA. R. A. squaring lugs 12 formed on the upper surface of the spring plank seat portion of the tension member. The spring plank 10 is preferably channel shape in cross section, as indicated particularly in Figure 1, and may beformed from a blank of standard width, the necessary increased width at the ends being secured by decreasing the height of the upstandingside flanges at these points. In the embodiment illustrated, a frame is shown which, in general outline and size of the bolster opening, corresponds with an A. R. A. seventy ton frame but it is obvious that our invention may be embodied in frames of any desired character. With such frames, five unit nests of springs are usually employed and, in accordance with our invention, such standard five unit nests of springs or any nests of springs are increased in capacity, as more fully explained hereinafter.

Positioned on the spring plank 10 is a spring plate 13 preferably provided, in the present embodiment, with five spring loeating collars 14, said collars being normally positioned'with respect to each other for receiving a standard five unit nest of springs, each unit 15 preferably comprising an outer coil 16 and an inner coil 17, the inner coil 17 preferably snugly fitting around its corresponding collar 14 and the outer coil 16 preferably wound in the oppo Site manner and properly positioned by the inner coil 17, a normal amount of clearance being provided therebetween. Although the five unit nest of springs is positioned so that the spring units are a normal distance apart, yet, in the embodiment shown, the nest as a whole is positioned at an angle of ninety degrees with respect to the normal location of the A. R. A. standard five unit nest of springs, that is. the long axis of said nest of springs extends transversely rather than longitudinally of the frame but the center of gravity thereof preferably lies directly over the longitudinal center line of said frame as well as over the longitudinal center line of the spring plank 10.

For increasing the spring capacity of the nest of springs, in the present embodiment, we provide an additional pair of springs 18 placed. approximately on the longitudinal center line of the side frame and positioned one on each side of the central spring unit of the five unit nest of springs. If, as is preferable, the outer diameter of the additional springs 18 corresponds with that of the spring units 15, said sprin are preferably positioned with normal 0 earance with respect to the adjacent springs of the five unit nest of springs and, thereby, complete the formation of a hexagonal nest of springs, as shown most clearly in Figure 2, the long axis of said hexagon extending longitudinally of the frame. For the purpose of receiving the extra units 18, the spring plate 13 is corrcspondingl extended and formed with spring positioning collars or bosses 19, said bosses, in the present instance, being preferably extended upward a distance sufficiently great so that they may be formed with perforations 20 and serve for receivin retaining bolts 21.extending therethrougi and through correspondingly formed apertures 9.2 in the upper spring plate 23, whereby the adjacent portions of the perforated bosses on the spring plate extend sufficiently close together to enable the employment of retaining bolts 21 short enough to obviate the necessity of perforating the spring plank 10 and web 6 of the tension member thereunder for receiving said retaining bolts upon compression of the springs. Because of using the two retaining bolts 21 through the embossed portions of the spring plates, as illustrated, it is possible to dispense with the usual cent-rally positioned retaining bolt, but it may be desirable, however, to form the usual central retaining bolt apertures 24 in the spring plank and 25 in the side frames so that the standard five unit nest of springs may be used interchangeably with the seven unit nest of springs, as shown, or may be used for replacement purposes, if desired. The spring plates, as is usual, are preferably formed with substantially conical locating bosses 26 preferably formed for engagement in the usual locating side frame. apertures 27 and bolster apertures 28 normally located on the longitudinal center line of the side frame 1. If desired, the usual single embossment provided at each end of the spring plank for limiting outward shifting of the nest of springs may be replaced by a pair of bosses 29 positioned as indicated in Figure 2 so as not to necessitate the undue lengthening of the spring plank. These bosses, however, may be omitted, if desired, to make the arrangement interchangeable with the standard five unit nest of springs normally positioned.

On account of the increased size of the nest of springs in a direction transverse with respect to the side frame 1, not only is the spring plank increased in length but the bolster 30 is preferably correspondingly increased in length and the substantially horizontal portion or web 31 thereof is preferably extended inwardly, as shown in Figure 3, so as to provide just enough areafor receiving the upper spring plate 28. On account of the increased dimension of the nest of springs in a direction longitudinal of the side frame, it may be found desirable when using auxiliary springs 18 of a diameter corresponding with or greater than the spring units 15, to provide for sufficient clearance with respect to the bolster guiding portions of the side frame by cutting away the lower portions of said guiding portions to a degree sufficient to just provide the necessary clearance. The upper web 6 of the tensionv member 3 may be of a width corresponding with or slightly less than the corresponding diinension of the nest of springs, and, in the present embodiment, said width is slightly less than the correspondin dimension of the nest of springs, as inc icated in Figure 4.

For etficiently supporting the individual spring units of the nest of springs, the front or outer web 8 is preferably sloped outward and upward from the lower web 7 to meet the upper web 6 substantially directly beneath the two outermost spring units 15 and the inner web 9 is correspondingly sloped with respect to the innermost spring units 15. Between these spring units and the upright portions of the webs 8 and 9, said webs are preferably of gradually varying slope, as particularly shown in Figure 4. In order to form a spring plank seat portion of adequate width, the upper web 6 of the tension member is preferably extended beyond the upper ends of the sloping webs 8 and 9 to form extended flange or shelf portions 32- and 33, respectively, said shelf portions extending at a maximum width beneath the outermost and innermost spring units 15 and tapering off in width at opposite sides of said spring units, as shown most clearly in Figures 2 and 4. For properly supporting the center spring unit 15, transversely extending webs 34 ale provided, said webs preferably extending between the webs 6 and 7 inwardly from the webs 8 and 9, respectively, to adjacent the aperture 25 in the web 6, if used. If no aperture 25 is provided, a continuous web may replace the web 34, which web then need not extend the full distance from the web 6 to the web 7 for its entire length. The auxiliary or additional spring units 18 may be efficiently supported by forming stools 35 preferably angular or shape in cross section directly therebeneath between the webs G and 7 of the tension member.

The auxiliary springs 18 are, in the embodiment shown, of less free height than the original spring units 15 of the five unit nest of springs. Although the height of these springs may be varied within wide limits yet their free height is preferably such that they are just engaged by the upper spring plate when the other springs are un der normal load and the solid height of said auxiliary springs preferably corresponds with that of the othersprings so that they all go solid simultaneously. For that purpose, the auxiliary springs 18 are preferably formed of heavier stock and may be merely single coil springs, as illustrated, although, as will be obvious, the capacity of 95 said springs, when compressed solid, may correspond substantially with that of the other spring units because ofthe increased size of the material from which they are formed.

Referring now to the embodiment of our invention illustrated in Figures 6 to 9, inclusive, a verv similar arrangement is disclosed which differs from the aforedescrihet arrangement in the following particulars. 10 The standard five unit nest of springs 15 is normally positioned, that is, the long axis thereof extends along the longitudinal axis of the side frame and the auxiliary or supplemental shorter springs 18 are respec- 11 tively disposed inwardly and outwardly of the center spring unit of the five unit nest of springs along the longitudinal center line of the spring plank rather than that of the side frame. If the retaining bolts for the 11 spring plates extended through these auxiliary springs 1T8 spring plates substantial- 1y identical with those illustrated in Fig ure 5 might be used except that the locating bosses 26 thereof would be shifted 120 through an angle of ninety degrees so that they would extend perpendicular to the line between retaining bolt bosses rather than in line with said bosses. However, in the present embodiment, we prefer to use a single 125 retaining bolt 21 extending through the central spring unit 15 of the standard five unit nest of springs and, as is obvious, said retaining bolt may be constructed and disposed in standard position and extend through appropriately embossed portions 19 in the spring plates. On account of this construction, the spring plank and associated side frame are necessarily formed with bolt receiving apertures 24 and 25, respectively as shown most clearly in Figures 8 and 9.

The auxiliary springs 18 may be of a height and constructed of material corresponding with the springs 18 of the previous embodiment so that the capacity thereof is reserved until after a predetermined compression of the standard five unit nest of springs. It will be noted that the spring retaining collars 19 in the upper spring plate 23 are preferably sufliciently high or deep to prevent displacement of the auxiliary springs 18. The spring plank may be of standard width and correspondingly increased length and formed with the usual e-mbossments for limiting outward shifting of the nest of springs replaced by a pair of em'bossments 29, positioned as indicated in Figure 7, although, if desired, said embossments or bosses may be omitted. The horizon-- tal portion 31 of the bolster which engages the upper spring plate 23 is necessarily extended to a greater width locally to take care of the inner auxiliary spring unit 18, as shown particularly in Figure 8. The reinforcement of the upper web 6, at the spring plank seat portion thereof, may correspond substantially with that described in connection with that of the previous embodiment except that the webs 8 and 9 follow a slightly different line at their upper ends to correspond with the changed positioning of the hexagonally arranged springs thereabove Inasmuch as only the center spring unit lies on the longitudinal center line of the side frame, it becomes unnecessary to use stools corresponding to those designated by the reference character 35 of the previous embodiment. Except as specifically described in connection with the present embodiment, the details thereof may correspond with those oi the first embodiment.

By virtue of the foregoing construction, it will be apparent that we have devised a car truck in which the capacity of the springs supporting the bolster is increased, said capacity, however, preferably not coming into play until after the normal load has been i applied on said bolster when the force of the springs increases at a greater rate than previously. Although the arrangements shown are particularly adapted for seventy ton frames yet the principles there disclosed may be embodied in frames of any desired capacity or character. Although the frames, bolsters and spring planks have been modified to correspond with the increased spring capacity yet, if desired, standard nests of springs may be used interchangeably theretional spring of a capacit with or for replacement purposes, if desired, as heretofore explained.

Having now described our invention, we claim:

1. In a. car truck, in combination, a side frame formed with a bolster o ening and a spring plank seat portion un erlying said opening, a nest of springs supported by said sprin plank seat portion, a bolster supported by said nest of springs, and additional springs of approximately the same diameter positioned one on either side of said nest, the springs in said nest being longer than the additional springs whereby the latter are not stressed until after a predetermined compression of said nest of springs.

2. In a car truck, in combination, a side frame formed with a bolster opening and a spring plank seat portion beneath said opening, a nest of spring units supported by said spring plank seat portion, and a bolster su ported by said nest of springs, and an addiapproximating that of one of the units of t e nest of springs positioned adjacent the nest of springs, said additional spring being shorter than said nest of springs whereby no compression thereof occurs until after a predetermined deflection of the nest of springs, said springs being so proportioned that they are all adapted to go solid simultaneously.

3. In a car truck, in combination, a side frame formed with a bolster opening and a spring plank seat portion underlying said opening, a nest of springs supported by said spring plank seat portion, and a plurality of extra springs arranged on opposite sides of said nest of springs and of a diameter approximating that of the first-mentioned springs, said extra springs being shorter than the other springs whereby they are not brought into play until after a predetermined compression of said other springs.

4. In a car truck, in combination, a side frame formed with a bolster opening and a spring supporting portion underlying said opening, a five unit nest of s rings supported by said portion, and a olster supported by said nest of springs, said nest of springs being positioned in standard relation with respect to each other and a pair of springs positioned one on either side of the center spring unit of said nest of springs, said pair of springs being of a shorter free length than the springs of said nest of springs, whereby they are not engaged by the bolster until a predetermined deflection thereof.

5. In a car truck, in combination, a side frame formed with a bolster opening and a spring supporting seat portion beneath said opening, a five unit nest of springs supported by said portion and arranged in standard position with respect to each other and a bolster supported by said nest of springs, said spring capacity being reinforced by a pair of springs positioned on the short axis of said nest of springs, one spring on either side of the center spring unit thereof, said springs being of a shorter free length than those of the five unit nest of springs and being constructed of thicker material whereby they are adapted to '0 solid simultaneously with the Springs 0 the five unit nest of springs.

6. In a car truck, in combination, a side frame comprising a compression member, a tension member, bolster guide columns spacing intermediate portions of said members and leaving a window opening therebetween, that portion of the tension member, beneath the window opening, serving as a spring plank seat portion, a spring plank supported on said spring plank seat portion, a spring plate supported on said spring plank and formed with means for positioning the same with respect to said spring plank and means for properly locating associated springs with respect thereto, a standard five unit nest of springs supported on said spring plate, a second spring plate supported on said nest of springs and in turn supporting a bolster thereabove, the capacity of said nest of springs being reinforced by additional sprin s positioned on opposite sides of the center spring unit of said nest of springs, said additional springs being of a shorter free height than the springs of the five unit nest of springs but of a solid height corresponding therewith, the spring plates being correspondingly extended for receiving said additional springs and retaining means ex tending between said spring plates.

7. In a car truck, in combination, a side frame formed with a bolster opening and a spring supporting port-ion underlying said opening, a seven unit nest of springs supported by said portion and disposed with six of said spring units forming a hexagon and the other spring unit centrally disposed with respect thereto, two oppositely disposed spring units of said hexagon being formed of shorter free height than the remaining spring iuiits whereby they are adapted for coming into action only after a predetermined compression of the other spring units, all of said spring units being adapted for the support of a bolster positioned thereabove.

8. In a car truck, in combination, a side frame formed with a bolster opening and a spring plank seat portion beneath said openbeing of a shorter free height than the other spring units whereby the capacity thereof is reserved until a predetermined deflection of the supported bolster.

9. In a car truck, in combination, a side frame formed with a compression member, a tension member and bolster guide columns spacing intermediate portions of said members leaving a window opening therebetween, that portion of the tension member, beneath the window opening, being laterally widened to serve for the support of the bolster springs, a nest of springs supported by said widened portion and formed as a hexagon in outline, two of the hexagon-forming oppositely-disposed spring units being-of less free height than that of the remaining spring units whereby the capacity thereof is reserved until after a predetermined compression of said other spring units, said shorter spring units, however, being formed of thicker material whereby they are stronger than the other spring units and adapted to go solid substantially simultaneously with the other spring units.

10. In a car truck, in combination, a side frame comprising a compression member, a tension member and bolster guide columns spacing intermediate portions of said members leaving a window opening therebetween, that portion of the tension member, beneath the window opening, being substantially box shape in cross section with the upper web thereof laterally widened to form a spring plank seat portion for the support of a seven unit nest of springs hexagonally arranged with one of said spring units centrally positioned, the side webs of said box section, for the purpose of efiiciently supporting said springs, being sloped outwardly and upwardly directly beneath the innermost and outermost springs and the center spring unit of said nest of springs being supported by transverse webs extending between the side webs and upper and lower webs but discontinued short of the longitudinal center line of the frame.

11. In a truck, in combination, a side frame formed with a bolster opening and a spring supporting portion underlying said opening, a plurality of springs of approximately the same.diameter supported by said portion, and a bolster supported by said springs, certain of the springs being diagoIially arranged on opposite sides of, and shorter than, the main group of said springs whereby they are not stressed until after a 'predetermined compression of said main group.

12. In a car truck, in combination, a side frame formed with a bolster opening and a spring supporting portion beneath said opening, a nest of springs supported by said spring supporting portion, and a bolster supported y said nest of sprlngs, a certain proportion of the nest of springs being shorter than the remainder of said nest of springs whereby no compression thereof occurs until after a predetermined deflection of the remainder of said nest of springs, said springs being so proportioned that the shorter springs are just engaged by the bolster when the other springs are normally loaded.

13. In a car truck, in combination, a side frame formed with a bolster opening and a spring plank seat portion underlying said opening, a nest of springs supported by said spring plank seat portion, and a plurality of extra springs arranged on opposite sides of said nest of springs, said extra springs being shorter than the other springs whereby they are not brought into play until after said other springs are normally loaded.

14. In a car truck, in combination, a side frame formed with a bolster opening and a spring supporting seat portion beneath said opening, a five unit nest of springs supported by said portion and arranged in standard position with respect to each other and a bolster supported by said nest of springs, said spring capacity being reinforced by a pair of springs positioned on the short axis of said nest of springs, one spring on either side of the center spring unit thereof, said springs being of a shorter free length than those of the five unit nest of springs.

15. In a car truck, in-combination, a side frame comprising a compression member, a tension member, bolster guide columns spacing intermediate portions of said members and leaving a window opening therebetween, that portion of the tension member, beneath the window opening, serving as a spring plank seat portion, a spring plank supported on said spring plank seat portion, a spring plate supported on said spring plank and formed with means for positioning the same with respect to said spring plank and means for properly locating associated springs with respect thereto, a standard five unit nest of springs supported on said spring plate, a second spring plate supported on said nest of springs and in turn supporting a bolster thereabove, the capacity of said nest of springs being reinforced by additional springs positioned on opposite sides of the center spring unit of said nest of' springs, said additional springs being of a shorter free height than the springs of the five unit nest of springs.

16. In a car truck, in combination, a side frame formed with a compression member, a tension member and bolster guide columns spacing intermediate portions of said members leaving a window opening therebetween, that portion of the tension member, beneath the window opening, being laterally widened to serve for the support of the bolster springs, a nest of springs supported by said widened portion and formed as a hexagon in outline, two of the hexagon-forming oppositely-disposed spring units being of less free height than that of the remaining spring units whereby the capacity thereof is reserved until after a predetermined compression of said other spring units.

17. In a car truck, in combination a side frame comprising a compression member, a tension member and bolster guide columns spacing intermediate portions of said mem bers leaving a window opening therebetween, that portion of the tension member, beneath the window opening, being substantially box shape in cross section with the upper web thereof laterally widened to form a spring plank seat portion for the support of a nest of springs arranged with one of said spring units centrally positioned, the side webs of said box section, for the purpose of eiiiciently supporting said springs, being inclined outwardly and upwardly and the center spring unit of said nest of springs being supported by transverse webs extending between the side webs and upper and lower webs but discontinued short of the longitudinal center line of the frame.

18. A side frame comprising a compression member, a tension member and bolster guide columns spacing intermediate portions of said members leaving a window opening therebetween, that portion of the tension member, beneath the window opening, bein substantially box shape in cross section witli an upper web laterally widened to form a portion ada ted for the support of a nest of springs witi one of said spring units centrally positioned and side webs extending from outer edges of the lower web to inter mediate portions of the upper web, said side webs being normally upright but sloped outwardly and upwardly beneath the portion of the frame for supporting the nest of sprin s whereby the upper edges of said side we s engage the upper web beneath certain of said springs of said nest of springs, said upper web being additionally reinforced beneath the central spring unit by transverse webs extending between the upper and lower webs and inwardly toward each other from the side webs.

19. A side frame comprising a compression member, a tension member and bolster guide columns spacing intermediate portions of said members leaving a window opening therebetween, that portion of the tension member, beneath the window opening, being substantially box shape in cross section with an upper web laterally widened to form a portion adapted for the support of a seven unit nest of springs hexagonally arranged with one of said spring units centrally positioned and side webs extending from outer edges of the lower web to intermediate p0rtioned for properly spacing the five double 1 coil spring units of a standard five unit nest of springs and spring locating embossments positioned one on either side of the central spring positioning means for the nest of springs, said latter means being adapted for 20 properly positioning extra single coil springs and apertured for the reception of retaining means.

In testimony whereof we afiix our signatures.

BYERS W. KADEL. DONALD S. BARROWS. 

